Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Quote, Unquote!
I’ve been reading a lot of contemporary lately, as is my custom, and (since I am writing this post the day before it has to come out) I figured I would do a mini-review of some of them.
I won’t be giving full overviews, but I will be rating them out of five stars based on four categories: cleanliness, plot, characters, and prose. Then they’ll receive an overall score out of five. It’ll be kind of a lightning round of reviews, and you can argue with me in the comments about it.
Let’s go!
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
finished July 25, 2022
Cleanliness:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Plot:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Prose:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Overall score: 18/20
Color Me In by Natasha Diaz
finished July 20, 2022
Cleanliness:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Plot:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Prose:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Overall score: 12/20
If These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley
finished July 18, 2022
Cleanliness:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Plot:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Prose:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Overall score: 17.5/20
Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welsh
finished July 17, 2022
Cleanliness:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Plot:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Prose:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Overall score: 17/20
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
finished July 14, 2022
Cleanliness:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Plot:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Prose:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Overall rating: 18/20
That’s all for now! I enjoyed writing this post, and I think I might do more in the future. Have you read any of these books? Do you agree with my ratings?
Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you next Wednesday!
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Quote, Unquote!
If you read the entirety of my last post (which, honestly, is a feat in and of itself–that one was long), you may recall me mentioning not being able to reply to comments immediately because I was in Houston for the National Youth Gathering. Well, I’m back now and (somewhat) caught up on my sleep, so I think it’s time for a recap.
The National Youth Gathering (henceforth called NYG or simply the Gathering) is an enormous event for youth of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod that happens once every three years. This year it was in Houston, Texas, and there were about 20,000 youth overall who were in attendance. Yes, you read that right: twenty thousand youth. That’s a lot of teenagers rampaging around Houston.
Let me tell you this: NYG was incredible. We laughed a lot, we cried a lot, we learned a lot, we screamed a lot, we sweated a lot, we walked a lot, we didn’t sleep a lot but that was okay. I got to play in the wind symphony during the huge worship service on the last day, and it was the best experience of my life. The Gathering was truly the pinnacle experience of my short 16 years of life so far.
The theme for this Gathering was “In All Things,” with the main verses being Colossians 1:15-20. Here they are if you aren’t familiar with them:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)
All of our Bible studies, Mass Events, and sessions focused around what it was like to have Christ in all things. I went to some sessions focusing on hard topics like sex, abortion, LGBTQ, and coronavirus, and somehow they all managed to tie in that theme. It was interesting how many different takes on one topic we could get.
I wish I could go a little more in-depth on this, but honestly, I’m still processing most of the things we’ve learned. It was a lot to take in all at once, so now I’m going through a little bit of overwhelm. Maybe the theme of “In All Things” will leach into other blog posts at some point, though.
Instead of some deep, philosophical, religious ideas, how about I just regale you with some stories and pictures from the week?
Houston was hot. Most days hovered around the 95-100 degree (Fahrenheit) range, but the humidity could make it feel anywhere from ten to fifteen degrees hotter. Our group, coming from Michigan, wasn’t quite used to it, but we still had an amazing time, and seeing the city was absolutely incredible.
One of the big things at the Gathering is the backpacks. Every year everyone gets a backpack of their very own to carry stuff around for the whole week, and since our group was so large (79 people–!!), the leaders needed some volunteers to help carry all of them. I stepped up to the task and carried 23 all by myself, which was no small feat. It was so fun, though. I’m very proud of that moment.
One of the crowning moments of the Gathering was, I think, the for KING & COUNTRY concert! They sang so many of their hits: “Priceless”, “joy.”, “Burn the Ships”, and they also talked about human trafficking and how they were fighting to end it. There were lots of tears, happy and sad, during this concert, and the picture above is when they told us to turn on our phone flashlights in honor of all the human trafficking victims. Believe me, if you had a phone with a flashlight, it was on.
If you’re not an LCMS Lutheran, you might not recognize this guy, but he is a big deal. This man with the walrus moustache is President Harrison, the president of the entire Missouri Synod. And we got to take a picture with him!! Being in the band has its perks, eh?
There are a lot more pictures and videos, but most of them are with my friends and I’m wary of posting them all on my blog, so I’m not including them here. If you’d like to see them, though, I posted a lot on my Instagram story this past week, so you can check out my story highlights: @theliteraryliesl. (You might need to request to follow me if you aren’t already.)
Final thoughts: If you have the chance to go to a National Youth Gathering at any point, jump at it. I think NYG was the crowning point of my 16 years of life so far, and I’m so thankful for the friends and memories I made.
Hello, everybody, and welcome back to Quote, Unquote!
You have NO IDEA how excited I am to sit down and write this post. If you know me, you know I’m a huge Imagine Dragons fan, and today, the day that I’m writing this (July 1, 2022), their new album came out–Mercury – Act 2.
I’ve never done an album review before, and this is way outside of my normal content, but it excites me, so I felt like sharing my reactions with you. I’ll be listening to the music and reading the lyrics as I write this, so you get my full, authentic reactions. I strongly suggest listening to the album alongside reading this post, if you’ve got the patience for it.
Let’s go!
before listening
Act 1 came out on September 3 of last year (2021), and ever since I’ve been on tenterhooks waiting for Act 2. In March, they teased a song from the album, “Bones,” and another single from the album, “Sharks,” came out just a few days ago, on June 24. Since they did this with Act 1 (they teased “Follow You” and “Wrecked” before the album actually came out), it was reasonable to assume that both songs were from their next album, and oh boy did those songs absolutely slap.
Act 1 was, I think, one of their best albums to date, and I have high expectations from Act 2. They seem to be moving from the more poppy sort of style they had in Night Visions to more alt rock sort of stuff, as seen in a lot of songs from Smoke and Mirrors. I’m expecting a lot of songs, based off of what I heard from “Bones” and “Sharks,” to be more on the rock side, but with Imagine Dragons, you never know.
All right, that’s enough talking. I’ve been waiting months for this. It’s time to listen.
(My heart is pounding. Is this pathetic?)
1. “Bones”
I-I-I got this feeling, yeah, you know Where I’m losing all control ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones I-I-I got this feeling in my soul Go ahead and throw your stones ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones
thoughts: Very upbeat, in a dark sort of way. I like how the bridge goes a little quieter than the rest of the song. It really gives a nice contrast. The bass especially–chef’s kiss. I can see this being a song my dad likes, which is a point for it.
2. “Symphony”
So tell my mom I love her, call my baby sister Should’ve hugged and kissed her ‘Cause life is just a mystery And it’s gone before you know it So if you love me, won’t you show it?
thoughts: Again, very upbeat in a dark way. More pop than rock. Definitely one to dance to–I’m dancing in my seat right now. At first glance it seems like a song for a lover, but based on the lyric notes from “Bones,” I think it’s about Dan Reynold’s sister who lost her battle with cancer. It definitely doesn’t seem like a love song when you look at it that way.
3. “Sharks”
You think you’re better than them Better than them You think they’re really your friends Really your friends But when it comes to the end To the end You’re just the same as them Same as them (Ha ha ha ha ha)
thoughts: Darker than the rest. I like the lyrics and how they’re presented; the verses are almost rapped, the way they’re said very quickly in an almost monotone voice. It seems to be about fake friends and superficiality. Overall, a very fast-paced, thought-provoking song.
edit: The music video is reminiscent of Ocean’s 11, and I think it adds a nice layer to the song. Go ahead and watch it.
4. “I Don’t Like Myself”
There are times when I don’t like myself I believe all the things that they say about me (‘Bout me) I wanna love myself, just like everyone else But there are times when I don’t like myself
thoughts: The slowest song yet–also the most relatable for me. (Why are you calling me out this way?) But this is exactly the sort of song I expected from this album. The way that Act 1 presented a new view of mental health that they hadn’t previously shown in their songs definitely paved the way for this sort of song. A little repetitive and slow, but overall a pretty good song.
5. “Blur”
I’m always waking up Looking to fill my cup I’m such a loser ‘Cause I got it all right in front of me Everything I could need I want to be satisfied with what I have
thoughts: Again, another song totally calling me out. Definitely more rock-y and metal-y than the rest of the songs so far (the guitar solos are amazing). I like how they’re tackling the subject of always looking for something more and trying to live in the present, as that’s something I struggle with quite often. This is my favorite one on this album so far, but we’ve got thirteen more songs to go, so let’s see if that stands.
6. “Higher Ground”
This life is such a ride I live until I die I walk into the fire I’m searching for the higher ground What a life I live until I die Won’t fail unless I try I’m searching for the higher ground
thoughts: The rhythm is definitely the kind of thing that’ll get stuck in your head. Another song I can see my dad liking. I like the lyrics a lot, but honestly, it’s a little too heavy metal for me. It sticks with the theme of darkly upbeat, though.
7. “Crushed”
I suppose she’s supposed to be exactly what they want her to be So pretty in pink Necklace and ring, don’t be heard, just be seen But that’s not who I am She said I can feel, I can feel too much And I wish they’d go away, go away ‘Cause it’s crushing me It’s crushing me
thoughts: Another too-relatable song. Slower again, a little more acoustic, reminiscent of Origins. I also appreciated the references to The Scarlet Letter. It’s a little repetitive, and while I like how relatable it is, I don’t think it’s my favorite. I would probably put this one on my playlist but skip it every time it went on.
8. “Take It Easy”
Take it easy on me I need some lullabies They tell me heaven’s just a lie Well, I’m not surprised Tell me that you know, no, you don’t Yeah, you’re just like me Can’t we just all hope for the best Take it easy
trigger warnings: mentions of alcohol
thoughts: The first song on this album that I outright dislike. The whole “heaven’s just a lie” part? Not sure how I feel about that. (Imagine Dragons is a Mormon band, for context.) I just didn’t like the style of this song. I probably won’t be listening to this one a whole lot.
9. “Waves”
Where was I when you were calling? I can’t go back, time doesn’t hear if you ask it to wait La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da So own all your tears and just roll with the waves La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da Life it could change, it could change in a day La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da So cherish your years and just roll with the waves La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da Time doesn’t hear so roll with the waves
trigger warnings: mentions of suicide
thoughts: Slower, more acoustic. This is a very personal-sounding, dark song, and I think it has a deep personal meaning to Dan Reynolds, the lead singer. Another song dealing with the meaning of living in the present and not in the past or the future. Not my favorite, but definitely a good, meaningful song.
Halfway through! This is turning out to be pretty long.
10. “I’m Happy”
What’s wrong with me? Is there somebody else inside my head That doesn’t want me to be happy? I know my rights, I live until I die I’ve got this bed, each night I go to sleep and dream I’m swimmin’ in the deep end You’re my buoy and I’m sinkin’ Life flies by me but I’m thinkin’ You saved my life and now
thoughts: Another relatable song that’s exactly what I expected after Act 1. It seems to deal with depression and trying to pick yourself up from the depths. I like the instrumentals and the melody. The pace is consistent; one might even call it relentless. A good song, but again, probably not one of my favorites.
11. “Ferris Wheel”
Promise that I’ll make you feel Like we’re on a Ferris Wheel We’re always young and innocent I promise you when things get hard Our love will be strong enough I know we’ll last, I’m confident
thoughts: Finally, a love song! I admit, I’m a little bit of a sucker for them. Slower and sweeter, with more acoustic. No drums in this song, and a higher register. Reminds me a lot of “One Day” from Act 1. This would be a good wedding song, I think. Definitely one for my love song playlist.
12. “Peace of Mind”
I’ve got so much to be happy about (Happy about) I’m always focused on things that amount to nothing Yeah, I think I’m a little depressed (Depressed, depressed) Everything is meaningless At least that’s how it feels Feels real bad
thoughts: Another song dealing with depression and picking yourself up. Another song that I relate to too much. And is that a little touch of love song in there? The beginning was kind of weird instrumentally, a little hard on my ears. The lyrics are so good, but the melody really isn’t up my alley. I’ll probably listen to this a lot, but it’s not my favorite ID song ever.
13. “Sirens”
Sometimes I get a little bit scared at night I get a little preoccupied The sirens in my mind The sirens in my mind I just wanna be good again I wanna make it to the end The sirens in my mind The sirens in my mind
thoughts: Another darkly upbeat song. I love the rhythm and the melody–it’s very catchy and seems like it would be very easy to memorize and sing. I just know it’s going to be stuck in my head all day. One of the best songs so far, I think. As usual, true to ID, the lyrics make almost no sense, but there’s probably some deep meaning behind them, so I’m not going to question them.
WordPress is starting to glitch. I think that this post has too much in it. Only five songs left, though.
14. “Tied”
A year away A year alone The tears have fall But we have grown The sun will rise The seasons change And here we are
thoughts: At first I thought this song was about an ex, but I think it’s actually about a dead spouse. That adds a layer to it that I didn’t consider at the beginning of this song. It’s very slow and soft, with not much instrumentalism and a definite focus on the vocals. I think it’s very touching. There is one line that concerns me: “Is there any God at all?” Again, ID is a Mormon band, so I’m not sure what to think of that. Otherwise, though, a good song.
15. “Younger”
So take me back when I was younger And I was still hungry Take me back when I was younger Yeah, I got the world at my feet Just try and stop me (Just try and stop me) Yeah, take me back when I was younger
thoughts: This song has a definite nostalgic feel to it. The first “dance-y” song in a while. It’s kind of the opposite of “Cha-Ching (When We’re Older),” which is a Spotify exclusive from Night Visions. In fact, I don’t think this song would be out of place in Night Visions. I would definitely put this song on my summery playlist. I like how peppy it is. This is exactly the kind of nostalgic ID content I’m here for. And the guitar solo!!
16. “I Wish”
I never called you and now it’s too late To say all the words that I’ve wanted to say The doctor said, “Oh, there’s a fight up ahead” I should’ve been there by your hospital bed
thoughts: Another slow, personal, emotional song. I think that Dan is really confronting his emotions about the death of his sister (or other people that he lost) in this album, and I think it’s a good thing. It’s very genuine, authentic music that makes you think and makes you feel.
This song actually makes me think about my grandfather, my opa, who I lost in December. Opa was a hard person to get to know, and I learned more about him after he died than while he was living. Like Dan sings, I wish I had been a better friend to him and heard more of his stories while he was still alive. But I have hope, because I’ll know I’ll see him again someday.
17. “Continual (feat. Cory Henry)”
Speak no lies I just wanna hear the truth I’m done with all the miracles Except for you Is it my fault If I’m something of a skeptic? I’ve been burned before Except by you
thoughts: Here’s another song that’s heavily focused on the vocals. I appreciate the instrumentals, and I like how slow and soft it is, especially with the piano. It’s a gospel-esque song, complete with the organ in the background. I don’t think this is strictly a love song, but it definitely could be interpreted as one. I’ve never heard of Cory Henry before now, but his voice really enhances it, and while I don’t listen to ID for slow songs, this is one that I really love.
Last one! (WordPress is really glitching now.)
18. “They Don’t Know You Like I Do”
See, I wish I could take it back, change the future and erase the past Grab the bullet out and pull you back I promise that I’d save your life like you saved mine But now it’s far too late for that, and all I have is your story left to tell So let me tell it, let me tell
trigger warning: implied mentions of suicide
thoughts: Another song with Dan facing some deep personal scars. It seems like he’s owning up to his feelings in this song, and I really like it. I like how the pace throttles up and down, with the instrumentals and the vocals having different emphases placed on them throughout the song.
after listening
What I was expecting: rock songs with lots of emphasis on mental health and veiled commentary on the world around us. What I got: lots of slower, more personal songs with testimonies about things that happened in the singer’s life.
Final thoughts? I’m honestly not sure about this album. I think it ranks a little below Act 1 in my personal opinion, but not by much. I just wasn’t a fan of how slow most of the songs were, but I think that they definitely served a purpose. I hope Imagine Dragons will be back with more in the future.
My top three songs, in order, from this album were: “Blur,” “Sharks,” “Younger.”
Also, when you read this (unless you read it way far in the future), I’ll be in Houston for the LCMS National Youth Gathering! So I won’t be responding to comments until I get back.
Thank you so much for reading this incredibly long, ranty post!
Hello, everybody, and welcome back to Quote, Unquote!
It’s been a little while since I’ve last posted Hot Takes, a series where I compare modern film to classic literature. And, okay, maybe The Sound of Music isn’t exactly modern, but hey, it was made after Jane Eyre, so it counts. In this post, we’ll be comparing the two stories, their themes, and their plots, and seeing what makes them similar.
Without further ado, let’s start by explaining the plots of both stories. Warning: There will be spoilers ahead! If you haven’t seen/read either of these works and you still wish to, please do so before continuing to read this post.
plot summary: The Sound of Music
Austria, 1938. Maria is failing at her one job: becoming a nun. She just can’t seem to stop singing and dancing and racing away to the mountains, so the Mother Abbess sends her to be a governess for Captain von Trapp’s seven children (the eldest of which I was named after, although I pronounce my name slightly differently. However, this isn’t relevant, so moving on). The Captain rules his household with an iron fist, and after he goes away, the children take every opportunity possible to misbehave, but Maria responds with kindness and soon they become good friends.
Maria teaches the children to sing, which displeases the Captain greatly when he returns home with his romantic interest, the Baroness, and he almost returns Maria to the abbey. But he is impressed and overcome by his childrens’ beautiful voices and changes his mind. He hosts a lavish party, during which Maria realizes that she has romantic feelings for the Captain. The Baroness, jealous, indirectly convinces her to return to the abbey. She does so, and during this time, the Baroness and the Captain are engaged.
Maria soon returns, and the Captain breaks off his engagement and marries Maria instead. However, this is Austria in 1938, so things aren’t happy for long. The Captain is ordered to report to the German naval base, but he’s opposed to the Nazis, so the family attempts to escape, but they are stopped. The family goes and sings in the Salzburg Festival to buy time, afterwards slipping away and hiding at the abbey. After a close call with the Nazis, the von Trapps are able to escape, and they make their way into Switzerland safely.
plot summary: Jane Eyre
(buckle up)
Young Jane Eyre lives with her abusive Aunt Reed, who, close to the beginning of the book, sends her away to school. The school is nowhere near as idyllic as Jane hoped it would be, and she spends a total of nine years there before finally accepting a governess position at a manor called Thornfield.
Her employer is a dark, brooding old man named Mr. Rochester, who she secretly starts falling in love with. One night, she saves him from a fire that she is told was set by a drunken servant. Later, Rochester brings home a wealthy and beautiful woman named Blanche Ingram. Jane is despondent and expects Rochester to propose to Blanche, but to her surprise, Rochester proposes to Jane instead. As their wedding day draws nearer and nearer, Jane is uncomfortable with the amount of lavishness (is that a word?) that Rochester heaps upon her. And on the wedding day itself, a man called Mr. Mason interrupts the vows, calling out the unbelievable truth: Rochester is already married.
Rochester admits that he is, but his wife, Bertha, is insane, and proves it to Jane by showing her. He tells her that it was really Bertha who set the fire that night. Rochester keeps Bertha hidden on the third floor and pretends she doesn’t exist. Horrified, Jane flees, knowing that it is impossible to stay with Rochester after this. She is forced to beg for food and wander the moors until she is taken in by three siblings: Mary, Diana, and St. John. St. John finds Jane a job teaching at a nearby school, and one day shocks her by delivering two pieces of news: her uncle has died and left her a vast fortune, and her uncle is also his, Mary’s, and Diana’s uncle, thereby making them cousins.
St. John decides to travel to India as a missionary and invites Jane to accompany him, proposing marriage to her (EW). She declines after nearly giving in and realizes that she cannot leave Rochester, who she truly loves. She hurries back to Thornfield and finds that it has been burned in a fire, during which Rochester lost his sight. They reconcile, marry, and live happily ever after.
(I know that was long, but that was like the SparkNotes of the SparkNotes, so…there’s not a whole lot I can do.)
their similarities
Now, you may be noticing some eerily similar things in these synopses. Let’s list them:
a spirited young woman with strong faiths (Jane and Maria are both strong believers in God) as the main character
a moody, rich older man as the love interest (who also owns a mansion in Europe)
the men being scarred from their previous marriages
the women leaving their former lives to become governesses
the governesses falling in love with their employer
a rich woman who comes in between the main character and their love interest
governesses leaving their employers, despite being deeply in love with them
the (former) governesses returning to their employers after a deep internal conflict
the governesses marrying their employers and gaining children, whether by birth or inheritance (that’s not the right word but honestly who cares)
Obviously, The Sound of Music actually happened–the original musical was based off of Maria von Trapp’s memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. But isn’t it a little…odd how much the 1965 film mimics the 1848 classic novel?
Maybe this is a conspiracy theory–it definitely could be. But The Sound of Music and Jane Eyre really are creepily similar. No one knows why….
Quote, Unquote 